More photos. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)
HIGHLANDS RANCH — If Valor Christian has set the standard in terms of winning in big school Colorado football, what happened Friday wasn’t just out of place. It was downright bizarre.
Normally the class of competition, Valor was outclassed by Chandler (Ariz.), 22-7.
It was a strange sight.
On a night where fall and winter started bullying summer, the Internet buzzed, the Valor faithful left early and Chandler did what Valor normally does: smack the other team in the mouth.
Of course, Chandler isn’t just another team. The Wolves are the top ranked team in Arizona and are expected to compete for the Division I state championship.
"They are so athletic and so physical," Eagles coach Rod Sherman said. "Really I thought defensively against our offense they had some well timed blitzes and pressures. With me calling the plays, that’s on me."
And that, in its purest sense, was it.
More photos. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)
Chandler’s defense made a statement early in the game — opening some eyes in the process — limiting Valor to just 85 total yards in the first half. The Eagles crossed midfield just twice and turned the ball over twice in the first two stanzas.
Offensively the Wolves used a giant offensive line — right tackle Brandon Ramirez was the smallest Chandler offensive lineman listed at 265 — and the zone read between quarterback Bryce Perkins and running back Chase Lucas set the tone.
The Wolves took the opening drive and used 11 plays and went 80 yards and took a lead they’d never relinquish.
Perkins — who is bound for Arizona State — found N’Keal Harry in the back of the end zone from 10 yards out. A 2-point conversion made it 8-0.
"We knew pretty quickly they were legit," Valor defensive back Eric Lee Jr. said. "The biggest thing for us was to overcome adversity."
Perkins found Harry again in the, this time in the second quarter from 20-yards out for a 15-0 lead.
Valor hurt itself on the ensuing drive. With 1:46 left in the first half, Chandler’s Jaray Mills recovered a fumble, giving the Wolves the ball at the Eagles 32-yard line.
Three plays later Perkins found Justin Jan for 13 yards and a 22-0 lead heading into halftime.
For perspective the last time Valor Christian was shut out in a half was the 2012 state championship game against Cherokee Trail. They won that day 9-0. No such luck Friday.
Valor, though, had its chances in the third quarter.
After going 3-and-out on its first possession, the Eagles turned the ball over on downs three times inside Wolves territory, including one inside the 5-yard line.
"It’s all hindsight to say this would have happened had we picked up a couple of those things," Sherman said. "I think they got a little conservative too."
Valor finally scored when Tanner Tadra rumbled in from 3 yards out with 3:59 left in the game to cut the deficit to 22-7.
The ensuing onside kick failed and Chandler was able to run out the clock.
The 15-point loss was the first double-digit margin Valor Christian has suffered since the 2009 season started. Over that span, the Eagles’ worst loss — and there have only been six — was nine points.
Valor (3-1) gets a week off before getting back to action Sept. 26 and opening league play at pesky Overland.
"Nothing," Sherman said, "was lost tonight."